Materials

Ceramics parts can be had from a limited number of commercial sources and a few university labs. CAM-LEM is a laminated object manufacturing (LOM) process available from its developer of the same name. The company also provides complementary processes such as green machining and ceramic part molding. LOM has also been adapted to ceramic parts by service bureau, Javelin Inc. located in Utah and some university laboratories. Contour Crafting technology from the University of Southern California is being investigated as means to make large structures such as buildings.

Paper laminated object manufacturing (LOM) part.	Starch part made by three dimensional printing (3DP).	Plaster part made by three dimensional printing (3DP).
(Courtesy, Cubic Technologies, Inc.)	(Courtesy, Z Corporation)	(Courtesy, Z Corporation)

Paper has been the material most closely associated with laminated object manufacturing (LOM). Several companies provide systems that fabricate paper parts. One advantage is that the material is very inexpensive, but paper parts are not very stable. Paper parts have the look and feel of wood and are often used as sand casting patterns.

Plaster and starch parts are available from three dimensional printing (3DP) machines made by Z Corp. These are also inexpensive material but require some care in handling and must usually be infiltrated to make them durable.

Foundry sand parts can be fabricated using selective laser sintering (SLS) and also by a process from ProMetal RCT GmbH (Germany) that is similar to three dimensional printing (3DP). This machine is most appropriate for making very large parts.